Mindful Brain
True or False: Being mindful means your mind is full of too many thoughts.
False; Being mindful is paying special attention to the present moment.
True or False: The Guard Dog can sometimes signal a false alarm.
True
True or False: Our bodies send us signals when something is wrong.
True; it's important to listen to our bodies
True or False: Changes in our emotions can cause changes in our heart rate and coherence.
True
Crossing the road without looking both ways.
Unmindful
What type of mindfulness does Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, use before competitions?
Visualization; what could go right, go wrong, & what he wants to happen.
The 3 most common ways our brain responds to stress are called fight, _____, or ______.
Flight and Freeze
Name 2 signals our bodies can send us when we're upset or worried.
Difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, shaky hands, stomachache, headache, sweating, etc.
HeartMath combines focused attention with controlled __________.
Breathing
Listening to a story then being able to retell it.
Mindful
What does mindfulness help us do?
Calm down and work through strong emotions.
Which part of the brain is in control when we are being mindful? Unmindful?
Wise Owl; Guard Dog
Explain why it's important to also use mindfulness even when we are feeling okay.
Practice makes better; our brains learn how to calm down faster next time we're upset.
What does it mean if we're in the Red on HeartMath?
We are distracted, fast heart rate, quick breathing, incoherent.
Interrupting the teacher when they are teaching a lesson.
Unmindful
Does being mindful change our brains? How?
Yes; it can reshape it & build stronger pathways
Explain what focusing without judgment means.
Not getting upset or frustrated if you become distracted by thoughts or uncomfortable emotions.
Which calming strategy is the best to use first when we feel strong emotions?
Taking deep breaths
What does it mean when we're in the Blue on HeartMath?
On your way to coherence, more focused, calmer breathing, etc.
Stopping to think about the best way to solve a problem.
Mindful
What happens when the connection between the Guard Dog and Wise Owl is broken? How can mindfulness help?
It's harder to make good choices or think before we act. Mindfulness restores the connection.
Name at least 3 things that we notice while being mindful.
Feelings/emotions, thoughts, physical sensations, and surroundings.
Name 3 ways to use mindfulness to calm down.
Take a break, breathing exercises, noticing our surroundings, color/draw, HeartMath, etc.
What does it mean when we're in the Green on HeartMath?
We are taking slow deep breaths, focusing on positive thoughts/feelings, coherent, mind & heart connected.
Give examples of unmindful behavior and mindful behavior.
Answers will vary.